What is already known: Evidence suggests that e-cigarettes can increase smoking quit rates. However vaping rates are exceeding smoking in adolescents with active marketing of e-cigarettes to young people leading to some who have never smoked cigarettes taking up vaping. What this study adds: Vaping is more frequent than smoking in young adolescents (aged 14 years and under), with increased rates among girls and Māori, with few indicating that vaping was taken up to help quit smoking. Many young adolescents respond positively when asked if they want help with their vaping. Tight controls of vaping products are needed to prevent e-cigarette marketing from attracting non-smoking adolescents, while ensuring access for those who wish to use vaping to help quit smoking.

What is already known: Despite being largely preventable, dental caries remains as the leading cause of children’s hospitalisations in New Zealand, particularly affecting Māori and Pasifika populations. What this study adds: This scoping review offers a systematic analysis highlighting its effectiveness in arresting caries with minimal invasiveness, cost-effectiveness, and the potential to promote oral health equity. Silver diamine can play a critical role in New Zealand’s public dental services in achieving better and more equitable outcomes.

What is already known: HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer and can be detected from a self-collected vaginal or clinician-collected cervical sample with comparable sensitivity and specificity. HPV self-testing has been shown to be an effective tool to improve participation in cervical screening among never and under-screened people. What this study adds: HPV primary screening incorporating self-testing was widely accepted among screening-eligible primary care participants, but key messages about this new approach were not well understood. Education, information provision and clear communication at all stages of the screening pathway will be critical to support patient understanding of and confidence in HPV primary screening.

What is known about the topic: Falls among community-dwelling older adults are a significant public health concern. Previous research has highlighted the importance of strength and balance exercises and falls prevention education in reducing fall incidence among older adults. What this study adds: This study shows the potential for student-run interventions in contributing to falls prevention efforts and improving the wellbeing of aging populations.

What is known about the topic: Palliative care significantly enhances the quality of life for advanced-stage cancer patients by addressing their comprehensive needs. The Chinese ethnic population faces substantial barriers in Australia to accessing palliative care services due to cultural and linguistic differences. There is generally a low awareness and many misconceptions about palliative care within ethnic communities, including Chinese Australians. What this study adds: The study highlights the specific challenges faced by Chinese Australian cancer patients and their caregivers in accessing palliative care services. It identifies language as the primary barrier, despite a strong interest in palliative care services among the Chinese ethnic community. The study highlights the need for local health authorities, medical associations, and community groups to develop and disseminate culturally and linguistically appropriate information to improve palliative care service uptake among the culturally and linguistically diverse community.

What is already known: Closed Books are a barrier to accessing primary health care enrolment. In June 2022, there were 347 (33%) general practices that had Closed Books with the lower North Island being particularly affected. What this study adds: This study looks at how Closed Books are distributed across Aotearoa New Zealand in 2024 and how this has changed at the general practice level since 2022.

What is known about the topic: Routinely collected administrative and health data have potential to be used for research that provides real-world health insights that can inform policy and improve clinical practice and population health. Engaging stakeholders to establish priorities can help ensure research is fit for purpose, provides important health benefits, and has the greatest potential to improve health equity. What this study adds: Primary care clinicians and academics identified the top research areas to improve health equity in primary care as the health workforce, health services, mental health, and models of primary health care. The top research questions include evaluating the impacts of annual health checks for people with intellectual disability, the role of allied health as front-line primary health care providers, and the role of an embedded social worker in a general practice clinic setting.

What is already known: The introduction of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been seen as a rapid and sensitive method for respiratory virus surveillance, and the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical need for rapid diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and the importance of using PCR testing for an accurate assessment. What this study adds: This study demonstrated the feasibility and clinical utility of using point-of-care test (POCT) swabbing for immediate rapid antigen test (RAT) and subsequent PCR testing for respiratory viruses in general practices in the middle of managing a viral pandemic.

What is already known: Knee pain is a common reason to consult a general practitioner (GP), but accurate diagnosis poses a challenge for GPs. To support GPs with this diagnostic dilemma in patients with knee pain, a prediction model could be a useful diagnostic decision support tool, however, this has not yet been developed. What this study adds: In patients with knee pain, for whom GPs experience diagnostic challenges, osteoarthritis is by far the most prevalent diagnosis, followed by patellofemoral pain and meniscal lesions. An age threshold of roughly 50 years is a strong predictor for knee osteoarthritis, patellofemoral pain, and meniscal lesions.

What is known about this topic: There is a current paucity of research in emergency simulation training in primary care. Although there is literature on the use that emergency simulation education has in secondary care services such as emergency medicine (EM) or for intensive care unit (ICU) staff, it is not well established or validated in primary care. What this study adds: To the best of the author's knowledge, this is the first literature review of studies that evaluate the use of emergency care simulations for primary care clinicians. The findings from this review can help inform and guide the appropriate education and training of primary care clinicians.

What is already known: Māori experience sexual and reproductive health (SRH) inequities. Healthcare providers (HCPs) and health services have critical roles in facilitating the health literacy of our population, which impacts on SRH. What this study adds: Wāhine Māori (Māori women) want to be well-informed when accessing SRH care and find this empowering, however, their experiences of this are variable and accurate SRH knowledge can be inaccessible. Improved dissemination of SRH knowledge, in the community and by HCPs, is needed.

What is already known: Access to human papillomavirus (HPV) self-testing improves participation in cervical screening among people who are un- or under-screened. Primary care clinicians involved in the early implementation of HPV primary screening in Aotearoa New Zealand support the change in primary screening modality. What this study adds: The ability to self-test, clear clinician communication and support were important contributors to a good screening experience, while inadequately communicated information impacted negatively on multiple aspects of screening. Participants identified a range of practical suggestions for primary care providers to support access and acceptability among future screening participants.

What is already known: Hazardous alcohol use is increasing substantially in older adults, yet they are less likely than younger adults to be screened for alcohol use and related harms in primary health care. What this study adds: This research demonstrates the acceptability and value in an approach to identifying alcohol-related harm in those aged 50+ that combines the knowledge of primary health care professionals about alcohol-related harm in this cohort and the use of existing electronic health records to automate detection of risk factors.

What is known about the topic: For over two decades, New Zealand has aimed to make primary health care more accessible, equitable and efficient, shifting more services into communities. While early efforts lowered patient fees and improved access, ongoing challenges—such as staff shortages and persistent inequities—suggest the system remains underfunded. What this study adds: This study provides the first in-depth look at how New Zealand’s government has funded primary health care in relation to health funding over the past 15 years. Despite increases in dollar terms, funding has not kept pace with population growth, inflation, or overall health spending, raising questions about whether primary care is truly a priority. Our findings call for a stronger financial commitment, recommending routine funding monitoring, a minimum funding benchmark, and a greater share of PHC funding to ensure a fair and resilient system.

What is already known: Although telerehabilitation offers the potential to improve access to rehabilitation for people with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and reduce health disparities, the services must be tailored to meet the specific needs of this population. What this study adds: This study provides information about the aspects of rehabilitation that are most valued by patients and how telerehabilitation services can be designed to best meet the specific needs of this population in Aotearoa New Zealand. Considering the travel time, cost and familiarity with their therapist, the results suggest that long telerehabilitation sessions would be the most valued option.

What is known about the topic: Individuals who hazardously consume alcohol may also present with nutritional problems such as weight loss, underweight, malnutrition, micronutrient deficiency and/or low food security. Previous research has shown limited input from the dietitian during admission to hospital for alcohol withdrawal. What this study adds: Healthcare professionals working within Primary Health Networks have variable confidence providing nutrition-related care to patients discharged from hospital post alcohol withdrawal, indicating a gap in nutrition-related service provision. These insights support the need for best practice guidelines for nutritional management in this population to enhance the role of dietitians within the multidisciplinary team.

What is already known: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the leading cause of adult spinal cord dysfunction, with average diagnostic delays of 2.5 years often resulting in irreversible neurological impairment. Primary care clinicians are well positioned to identify DCM early, yet international research suggests that condition awareness is lacking. What this study adds: This study is the first to assess DCM awareness and diagnostic confidence among primary care clinicians in Aotearoa New Zealand, revealing critical knowledge gaps. The findings highlight the need for targeted education and standardised referral criteria to facilitate timely detection and surgical consultation.